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Sign the Avaaz petition!!

To Environment Canada, and the Government of Canada:
"As citizens concerned about free speech, we demand that you immediately reinstate Tony Turner and call-off all investigations. Civil servants -- like the rest of us -- have a right to free expression. They shouldn't be punished for using it." Click here to sign...

Harperman, it's time for you to go!

Harperman Song Project

Welcome… you’ve come to the right place!

Harperman is written and performed by Ottawa folk singer Tony Turner. Tony got his inspiration from an article in a social justice newsletter, and added to the list to create a toe-tapping participation song of protest.

Tony Turner perfoms Harperman

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A Statement From Tony Turner - Regarding Harperman

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Millions of people across the country have been enjoying the video since we posted it on June 22nd. The September 17 Cross-Canada Harperman Singalong was a massive success (See: the map of locations, and videos of many events).

Hamilton Seen, a Hamilton-based film company, made a documentary about Tony Turner’s suspension and the issues it raises for freedom of expression in Canada. Entitled “Harperman: A Dissident Serenade“, the documentary encourages people to reflect on these issues. Here it is:

The Harperman Video Challenge – People across Canada mede their own video of the “Harperman” song and posted them on YouTube. Here is a wonderful compilation “Singing Out Harperman – A Nation in Unison” edited by Steve Beattie:

As an American and Canadian, I shudder when I think of how closely Harper reminds me of those right-wing fanatics in the tea party group of Republicans.
Hurray to Tony for hitting on so many of the issues that make me grieve for this great country of Canada.
See you at the sing-along!

The kids still die, die, die (bis)
on the beach their bodies lie, lie, lie
And I ask him why, why, why,
asylum we deny, -ny -ny
Who’s this inhuman guy, guy, guy?
HARPERMAN!!!!!
IT’S TIME FOR YOU TO GO!!!

Fantastic strategy to use a song and catchy lyrics to emphasize our
cause ( hopefully it will emphasize the need for younger Canadians
to vote ) . I hope our side can get them involved. Harperman and
his Cons cheated in the last 2 elections. Whenever a 3rd world
country has democratic elections for the first time; there were
U.N. observers present at all the Polling Stations to oversee . Since
Harperman has reduced us to 3rd world status , we need to have
the same oversight here .

I believe the AVAAZ petition has sent many new viewers to the Harperman youtube but there isn’t a counter there to tell how many have signed. AVAAZ usually provides a real time counter so I don’t know what’s going on. Anyway it won’t be long until the youtube hits are at half a million — very impressive!https://secure.avaaz.org/en/harperman_loc/?aRNqdab

Stephen Harper is the most dangerous man in Canada. He has changed our country fundamentally and has undone much of what our parents and grandparents fought to achieve. Not only is it time for him to go, it’s time to undo much of what he and his con pawns have legislated. This song will help unseat the con government and is exactly what many people like me are thinking about this government. My wife and I will be on Parliament Hill September 17 without fail. Time to take our country back!

Mr.Harper. You say you’ve never heard the song ‘Harperman’. Is that true? I’ve never heard that or any other song other than ‘Hey Jude’ by the Beatles. Clearly nor has any of my band mates or anyone in the PMO. I believe Mike Duffy was humming something but he’s before the courts and I can’t comment for national security reasons.

Ronald, you are right on. I have been describing our PM as the most dangerous man in Canada for some time: this country has moved towards a meaner, less democratic government as manipulated by harperman. Well said, Sir!

Thank you, Tony for stepping up and saying all the things the rest of us have been thinking…Harper is a dangerous man who has done irreparable damage to our country….this needed to be exposed…especially the damage to the environment, the denial of climate change, the muzzling of scientists like you and the cancellation of programs that ensure the safety of our health, water and food supply. So many people are unaware of what he has done and we need to let them know!!! I love the song and will be there on parliament hill on the 17’th to sing it out loud and proud.

Thank you for writing this great song. It would be good to have a verse in it about the cuts to universal health care. Even though I’m a healthy senior, I don’t want Canada to end up like the States where folks lose their homes because they can’t pay for their medical bills. A few months ago, I had a call from someone asking if I’d be voting for Harper. I said, “Let me put it this way, If Harper and Hitler were running, I’d vote for Hitler”. She even laughed.

I like the idea of getting the First Nations people to engage in a sing along. They need more positive exposure and a chance to voice their concerns intelligently and to have them heard.

I have also been listening to some of the other musical anti-Harper offerings, the two variations on “Stephen Harper Hates Me” are great with an appropriate blues beat. BRAVO! I’ve just come back from Ottawa so I won’t be there on September 17th but to anyone living within a reasonable driving distance–a few hours–I encourage you to go out and support this event.

Yes, yes. Multilingual with FN and immigrant add-ons! Refugee add-ons. First Nations would be a whole verse! Prison-population add-ons especially from Kingston where practically all outdoors activities and half-way housing has been cut by Harper. He wants people to re-offend. Could we get the people suffering from schizophrenia and bipolar disorders involved?

Thank you for this song! Appropriate for all of us down here in the US! Great lyrics and really well performed. I want to meet the young woman with the two tone hair and the orange and pink shirt! All of you are so lovely. Thank you for singing the truth. Hold the course and fight back against the fascist repercussions!

I must say it is catchy, and it is a brilliant move on your part to put this out.

I hope the union will stand with you on this, and that they will launch a court challenge which will finally rule that being a civil servant does not rob a person of the rights that every citizen has to free expression. This is a matter of fundamental rights not being usurped, and having it all play out during the election is magnificent.

I bet “Dear Leader” is not amused, and he is sure to not forget your name on election night.

Whatever you think of Harper or the current state of the Conservative Party of Canada, one very basic principle is at stake. This is supposed to be a democracy, not a monarchy; and lese-majeste is no longer a prosecutable offence. Nor should it ever, ever be again. Making fun of our rulers — dissident humour, political satire in all its forms — is one of the cornerstones of democracy. The petty, spiteful response (threatening Turner’s job and harassing him with a pointless “investigation”) just demonstrates Harper’s overt anti-democratic tendencies (and their dangerour implications for Canada’s free and civil society).

In the old USSR, you looked over your shoulder before you told a joke about the Commissar, let alone about the Big Names at the top. It was as much as your job, your housing, sometimes your life was worth, to say the wrong thing when the wrong person was listening. If that’s not what we want our lives to be like in Canada, then let’s support Tony, make this song go viral, defy the authoritarian tendency of our times by laughing it out of court.

Whether you are an outraged progressive, or an outraged libertarian, singing this song in public should be an urgent act of principle!

Muzzling the civil service is no doubt the instigation of the Harper “clan.” Such action should be declared illegal by the Supreme Court. Why are they silent? Civil servants have the same rights as all Canadians. It’s another example of Harper’s stilted brand of “democracy.” In my personal opinion, Tlony should sue Harper,the government and the Civil Service for wrongful dismissal.

Hey…nice tune! And the guy did it outside of work, well that’s his free speach right? I’m ok with a good folk tune about any of our political leaders, even whichever one I end up voting for this coming election. It sure doesn’t warrant a suspension from work and an investigation! Doesn’t he have work to do for the public, and doesn’t the government bureaucracy have more important things to investigate?!

Hey…nice tune! And the guy did it outside of work, well that’s his free speech right? I’m ok with a good folk song about any of our political leaders, even which ever one I vote for in the upcoming election. Come on, this doesn’t warrant being suspended from his job! Sheesh.

The sentiment, as much as the song. For me Harper is a bad man, and has gotta’ go. I’d prefer a leader who was less clever and less able over one with an abundance of these qualities assiduously being applied to moving us in a disastrous direction. So, go to it! Best Wishes.

I was a bit surprised that you said to wear the t-shirt, when Harper comes to town, and get the reporters to take your picture. Usually nobody (except his followers) knows where Harper will be when he arrives, including the reporters, who are in fact, told that they are NOT welcome.

Love you! Thanks for making it fun and funny. We’re not as bad off as many other countries but we really have to put a stop to this nonsense.
I salute you! I consider this simple freedom of expression and not at all an infringement on any work ethic.
CBC and Radio-Canada should definitively play it before or after every station identification and news break… as a news item, of course. hihiihiii

You have nailed the sad truth in this catchy tune!! Thank you to everyone involved!! This it is now my favourite song!! Are you aware of a gathering in Sudbury Ontario to sing the Harperman song? I will attend and sing along!!

Great job! We definitely need to inspire and educate young people and old to not just vote, but “vote smart” in this election… look at the polls for your riding and see who can actually beat the conservative candidate and vote for that person. It’s the only way to get them out. ALSO – make sure you remind everyone to register to vote, and to make sure they have the right ID to vote… it’s changed this year.

I think you have to vote with your conscience, with your intellilgence and not strategically. Another party when it was in power did some incredibly stupid things as well leading directly to the sorry situation we have today. Why is nobody in this video wearing sunglasses? I thought sunglasses were de rigueur in paranoid harperland.

For 5 long years a dedicated bunch of Canadians has been opposing the Harper regime’s acceptance in Canada of a bad U.S. law called FATCA. FATCA was passed in a U.S. omnibus bill (HIRE Act 2010) and accepted by the Harper government in its own omnibus bill (Bill C-31 2014). Although most Canadians aren’t aware of this law (yet), I wrote a Harperman verse dedicated to those who are adversely affected by FATCA (known as fat-ca). With hard work and help from international friends they raised $500,000 to get this injustice into the Canadian court system, hopefully all the way to the Supreme Court.

Who attacks our charter rights?
Harperman, Harperman
Who ends up in courtroom fights?
Harperman, Harperman
The FATCA sellout travesty
Is now in court for all to see
Harperman, it’s time for you to go

Who invades our privacy?
Harperman, Harperman
Who plans this in secrecy?
Harperman, Harperman
Makes our banks follow U.S. law
I.D. theft is the tragic flaw
Harperman, it’s time for you to go

Grateful thanks to you brave Tony Turner for the Harperman song and thanks to the many who sing backup, and those who have created further verses to educate and alert us all! Truly inspired campaign. I hope to sing along on Sept. 17 in solidarity.

Bravo for another timely verse (ex. the one above from Em re the US extraterritorial FATCA law foisted on Canadian citizens and legal residents (google isaacbrocksociety.ca ) that lays bare the Harper legacy of foisting the Con agenda onto Canadians without our consent or meaningful public consultation – deliberately hiding massively significant legislation to bind us all, in offensive OMNIBILLS like C-51 (2015) and C-31 (2014) to name only a few.

Most Excellent !
I will send my widow’s mite to support the project.
Ideas for collateral material:
1) Bumper sticker with “HARPERMAN” in a circle with a red bar.
2) Bumper sticker with http://WWW.HARPERMAN.CA
3) T-shirt with the lyrics on the front and “HUCK FARPER” on the back.

Well done! I’m so glad you guys did this. I had an idea of starting a “Stephen Harper, You can’t muzzle me!” campaign, but didn’t have the know how to get it off the ground. It was essentially the idea of getting everyday folks from across the country to voice their opposition to Stephen Harper in a short video clips, then edit the clips together to create a protest video with hopes of getting it to go viral on social media. What you all did is way better. Y’all are much more creative and talented then me. Thanks again for this song and the spot on lyrics!
ps
Thinking of you Tony and hoping that clearer heads prevail. If there’s any disciplinary action against you there’s going to be a whole bunch of us making noise.

By morning
perhaps we’ll see the
bright BARE face
of a composite order for a
national inquiry just economy
sustainable development
UN-VEIL
and
RE-VEAL
itself on the
parliament hill
in your soft pink
hand, harper.
A not-for-profit
stand, harper.

Thank you all for this song!!! I have passed it on to everyone I know!! Grassroots protest of this kind is an excellent example of true democracy!! I intend to vote but certainly not for “Harperman” or should I call him ” king”! He’s so full of male bovine manure, I can smell it on the east coast!!
As for your suspension, I thought we still have freedom of speech or is that another right taken from us by this fear mongering, anti environment, anti science , anti Canada, pro big oil, war mongering bunch of yahoos otherwise known as the “Harper Conservative Government”!!! Let’s all agree on this one thing..HARPER AND HIS CRONIES HAVE GOT TO GO!!!!

Thank you for this song!! We need more people like you to stand up for Canada. After hearing about Tony’s suspension I am sad to say I do not recognize this Canada. Every citizen has the right to share their opinion in an election campaign, no matter who they are employed by. Tony, if you don’t get to keep your job – get a lawyer!

fabulous. Must be translated in French so the entire country can sign along.
T-shirt, macarons, stick ers, flags everything should be considered.
Let’s go for a first day september 17 and follow with a coast to coast flash mob, jam session, concert just before oct.19.
Tv may not cover it because Harperman will musel them but he can not control social media.

This is *great* — but refers to much that Harper opponents are familiar with. Please please consider writing one that will spell out verse by verse the many misdeeds of the omnibus bills. There’s so much in them that it’s hard to highlight them all — certainly the laying waste to the protection of waterways and the surveillance bill are “up there”. The public at large is unaware of how unusual this form of “governance” is. The public at large is still puzzled by — or doesn’t remember — “proroguing”. Just saying your audience could be wider….

Thank you all so much for putting the effort for putting a voice to your opinions! And please do not lose hope despite what the Harperman is trying to do by suspending you from EC. We’re so proud of you for standing up to the man. We’re sometimes a very passive when it comes to politics, so projects like will hopefully mobilize more people to take interest in the elections. We’re with you on this campaign to stand up for free speech and voice your dissent through this very catch tune. Bieber who?

Just found out about your most excellent protest song and video. I just loved it!!! Glad to see some real spirit of real, peaceful, positive dissent and protest. And so glad that the tradition of protest songs is being revived! I’m from the U. S. and share many of your overriding concerns about today’s problems.

I included a link to the NPR story about this on my latest blog post.
God bless and keep up the good work!!!

Well, our American cousins have the Court Jester, Donald Trump to entertain them and get the grass roots going; now Canada has Tony Turner to entertain us. Keep up the good work!

Mr. Turner is a breath of fresh air to one of the hundreds of ex-Civil Servants forced off their job during Trudeau’s “reign of terror” years when he was accused of using the RCMP as his own private police force during what the press was calling, “RCMP Wrong Doing”. The PM seemingly busied himself changing the character of the country by implementing metric conversion, forcing French on the Civil Service, and multiculturalism, and apparently sent his henchmen after any Civil Servant who unfortunately supported “The Alliance for Preservation of English in Canada”, an organization seemingly deemed “criminal” and an alleged “threat to national security”. It would be nice if the 20,000+ former Canadian Civil Servants who accepted a no-questions-asked automatic Green Card lottery to move to the United States compliments of the American Embassy, would return back to Canada to tell their individual stories. As the old saying goes: “The Truth Will Out”.

PERFECT timing for your suspension! It will get the song WAY more attention, WAY more power, and public outrage over your suspension is likely to get it lifted.
Way to go Tony. Proud of a fellow public servant who is committed to his country and humanity!

Wonderful song and video! Thanks.
These lines in particular are priceless:
-“Who’s the rogue in prorogue?”
-“Won’t but into climate change until it’s sold on the stock exchange” (LOVE!)
-“Who turns watchdogs into lap dogs?” (My son loves that one too!)

Also, great idea for the Cross Country Sing-a-long. Thanks so much for kicking things off.

If any of you Cons (short for Conservatives) doubt the validity of these lyrics, please read Party of One by Michael Harris. Harpers sins read like an endictment of his 10 years in office.
We want you gone!!!

Thank you for the great song!!! I was just thinking we should have everyone play the “Would I lie to you?” song by the Eurythmics every time that Harper or his posse ‘answer questions’ or speak. Luckily I spotted the Ottawa Citizen article so I now have hope that we can finally get this less than honourable person out. Good luck in your fight against your wrongful dismissal. Thank you.

Posted the following on my FB page. Have a connection to several performers in South Surrey / White Rock, BC and will be encouraging them to listen, share and participate. Grass roots efforts like this are what can and have created change.

“Like all good protest/folk songs, the lyrics all speak the truth, it’s catchy as hell and it resonates throughout the land. This should become a classic. Listen, sing along, support the artist that created and turf Harperman in October. And as for anyone living up to an ethical standard, it’s kind of the kettle calling the pot black, if really want to know, Herr Harper.

Love it!
But why only T-shirts? How about bumper stickers, lapel buttons, lawn signs … ? Yes, lawn signs!!! We need lawn signs to combat all those blue things sprouting from our neighbours’ lawns. The ultimate form of political dissent!
Thanks and good luck!

You are doing a wonderful service to all citizens with this great parody. Canadians are so depressed after what the Duffy trial revealed and this horribly long election. Bravo to you all.! And I hope you get your job back when Trudeau is P.M.

Just found out about your song and video reading the National Post this morning.
Seems you posted it in June.
Will the national media give you air time as a ‘story of national interest’ or will they claim that you guys are ‘expressing an opinion’ and that’s illegal too.
You need to get the message out there, this video should go viral in
Canada. Good luck.

I’ve just read that Tony Turner has been suspended from his federal government job for posting Harperman. What won’t Harper do? Already Harper and his minions are using the tactics of 1930’s Germany to silence its critics. I fear for our future if he wins the election.

I really enjoy listening to the protst song and would like to invite you Tony Turner and some members (or all members) of your choir to sing the song of protest “Harperman” at one of our Institute union rallies in Ottawa or Gatineau in the near future before the election date of October 19th.

Mr. Turner, this song is what this great nation needed. Finally, someone who’s had the balls to challenge this anti-democratic government. What the hell has happened to the right of expression,opinion and freedom of speech in this country. I can see our forefathers turning over their graves with what H (I won’t even spell his name) has done to us.

And WHO, exactly, would you replace “Harperman” with?
The callow, inexperienced son of a demagogue, Turdeau? The hopelessly naïve Tom Hotair? Or, the total whack-job (refer to the recent Ottawa Press Gallery dinner) Wizbeth Maynot?

Yes, thank you Tony turner! Harperman has got to go! And for those who ask who to vote for? Well, anybody will be better at this point. Let’s go NDP. At least Mulcair seems to have some wisdom – that inevitably comes with age. Justin is just not ready yet, he is just trying to ride his dad’s coat-tails.

What a beautiful, creative summary of all the nasty things and havoc Harper has reeked on our wonderful country in the past 9 years. Great presentation by what is obviously a great community! Very inspiring to all of us would be song writers.

Brilliant! Would love to see this done by a full chorus of men and one token woman in business suits – done in a boardroom. And gospel style, rap style, operatic, blues, heavy metal, and so many more styles of music PLUS various ethnic communities and age groups. Spread the word (s) and tune folks. And lets not forget the forestry firefighters and wheat farmers, maybe even a police group…no impersonations of police though. How about the geek community and a bunch of teens in a mall too. Imagine what flash mobs this would make.

Thank you so much for this! I had my adrenals tested through a saliva test and my cortisol level was very high so I’m on a natural supplement to help balance them out and had to fix my diet. I just emailed my doctor when I read your article and asked for a complete Thyroid Panel to be done this week and copied and pasted every level to have checked!
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Congratulations!! Your song is terrific & your idea for a cross country sing-a-long is brilliant. Rhetoric tends to aggravate voters. Attack ads certainly do.
This fun project gets the point across beautifully without turning voters off. Our group of “antiHarpers” will join you on Sept 17 online & spread the word.

thanks for this ray of light in a despairing country.
Would you right a verse about Tony Clement? I am in his riding and have real concerns about his re-election. There is so much material to use with this Con. A snappy tune is so memorable for reminding others of this governing group.
Thanks for considering my request.

Hello,
Loved your video! Please take a look at the video that I’ve posted on YouTube regarding the Harper government’s horrendous record on the Environment and his love of BIG OIL. Check it out here please, and pass it along.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr2gTBPKqLg

Like you, I’m trying to get it in front of as many faces as possible before the election. I am spreading the link to yours as well.
Keep up the good work! John O’Brien

Great song. Thanks for your efforts. Love the idea of keeping all the enraging events to the forefront. It’s also good to hear the anger in the solo singers’ voices. One thing missing is the presence of young voters. I understand it’s an evolving process. Looking forward to the coming versions. Thank you again. This gives me hope! Eva from Comox BC